Australia to Monitor Marsh After Heavy Loss

In light of Australia's heavy defeat to India in Perth, Coach Andrew McDonald announced that the squad would remain unchanged for the upcoming second Test in Adelaide. He indicated that the same 13 players would be retained, including backup batter Josh Inglis and reserve bowler Scott Boland, although he refrained from confirming that the same starting XI would take the field.

Concerns were raised regarding Mitchell Marsh's fitness after he bowled a total of 17 overs during the match, marking his most extensive bowling workload in three years. McDonald adopted a cautious approach, stating they would wait to assess Marsh's condition before making further decisions. Despite Australia’s unsuccessful bowling efforts in Perth, McDonald expressed confidence that they were well-prepared, noting that Marsh's lack of experience was already anticipated.

Additionally, Marnus Labuschagne's recent struggles at the crease were acknowledged. McDonald affirmed that there would be ongoing discussions regarding Labuschagne’s form, emphasising that he still remained the best choice for the No. 3 position.

The selectors had faced challenges in selecting Nathan McSweeney, who was promoted to open the batting despite a lack of previous experience in that position. McDonald also stated that while domestic cricket opportunities were limited, he believed that there was sufficient depth in talent if needed.

Finally, McDonald reflected on Australia's performance, suggesting that they would review whether the issues stemmed from poor planning or execution, acknowledging the importance of both aspects moving forward.